Texas' David Pierce shares how Longhorns need to approach at-bats to breakthrough against Louisiana

Through three innings, Texas had struggled to get much of anything going offensively in Game 1 of the Coral Gables Regional against Louisiana. Longhorns head coach David Pierce just wants his lineup to keep patient and try to attack the middle of the field.

That’s easier said than done against Louisiana pitcher Jackson Nezuh, who had two strikeouts and given up one hit through his three innings of work. Through five innings of work, Nezuh still hadn’t given up a run and had five strikeouts to three hits — the game was still knotted at zero. Pierce lauded how Nezuh keeps hitters off balance.

“We gotta stay in the middle of the field. He really does a good job of changing speeds and mixing in and out, hard and soft — down and away. We just gotta stay in the middle of the field, get a good pitch and be ready,” Pierce said in the top of the fourth inning.

His team got it going minutes later, putting runners on the corners with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning via a pair of base hits.

Unfortunately for Texas, a ground ball to third ended the threat for Louisiana and moved the game to the fifth inning scoreless.

Matching Nezuh for Texas was Lucas Gordon, who gave up three hits and struck out six after five innings.

“He’s a veteran, he likes this spot and just proud of him. He’s just going to go out there and compete for his team,” Pierce said.

Gordon has vindicated Pierce so far, but he and Nezuh have been every bit equals through five innings of Friday’s contest.

A homer run robbery by Texas kept the game scoreless in the fourth inning

Louisiana had put two runners on in the top of the fourth inning when second baseman John Taylor tattooed a ball to the right-center gap. Off the bat, it was clear it had a chance to get out of the park and give the Cajuns a 3-0 lead.

But Texas centerfielder Eric Kennedy had different plans, tracking the ball to the warning track, then wall, before a leaping to intercept the ball as it crossed just above the outfield fence.

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A gem of a defensive play for Texas and a 3-0 lead on the Longhorns gone in moment for Louisiana.

And with two outs, Kennedy’s catch ended the inning so the Cajuns didn’t get a chance at scoring a sacrifice fly. Thus, the pitcher’s duel continued on for another inning as both offense keep searching for a breakthrough run.